Hotels Pulling Plug on Bathtubs to Hook Up Showers

Splish, splash, you won’t be taking a bath, ’long about a Saturday night — or any other night, if you settle into a room in one of the increasing numbers of hotels that have pulled the plugs on tubs. The chains explain, however, that they are using the space gleaned from going tubless to build more luxurious showers, according to USA Today.

A decade ago, about 95 percent of new Holiday Inns had bathtubs, compared with only 55 percent of its new waysides now, USA Today reported. Marriott plans to have only showers in fully three-fourths of its hotels.

Other reasons the hoteliers cite for the plumbing switch: Corporate travelers don’t have time for bubble baths, and many vagabonds just prefer showers, the nation’s daily reported.

"Most business people are on the run and take a quick shower," Marriott’s Bill Barrie told the newspaper, adding that the industry has been shifting from tubs to showers for three to five years.

“There's no time for baths," said Barrie, Marriott’s senior vice president of design and project management. "Plus, the shower experience now can be pretty dramatic."

Despite the trend, some hotels strive to meet both preferences.

Embassy Suites found in a 2008 survey that a majority of travelers take a shower when on the road for work but prefer a tub or bath/shower combination for vacations, especially when traveling with young children, USA Today reported.

No word from Tom Bodett on tub plans at Motel 6, because he’s too busy leaving the light on for ya.

Splish, splash, you won t be taking a bath, long about a Saturday night or any other night, if you settle into a room in one of the increasing numbers of hotels that have pulled the plugs on tubs. The chains explain, however, that they are using the space gleaned from...